CELIBATE. (unmarried and sexually abstinent) Certain churches require their ministers to abstain from marriage, but this only leads to a higher rate of immorality (See MARRIAGE, see FORNICATION, see ADULTERY). Most of the apostles had wives (I Corinthians 9:5), as did Peter (Matthew 8:14), and scriptures says that “Forbidding to marry…” was one of the “doctrines of devils…” (I Timothy 4:1-3). This is not to be confused with someone who has voluntarily chosen such a life (Matthew 19:10-12, as the Apostle Paul, I Corinthians 7:7-9). But Christ warned that not all could do this “He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” (Matthew 19:12) Paul the Apostle, who was unmarried and thought it gave him more time to minister, told others it was “not of commandment”, and warned that “it is better to marry than to burn.” (I Corinthians 7:6, 9) Any man or woman who is considering such a vow of celibacy or having a life without marriage needs to realize that God did not intend this for most people, as we were born with a natural desire for a spouse and having a family. Abstinence within marriage is taught in one place (I Corinthians 7:2-5) and then with very definite guidelines. Husband and wife were to render unto each other “due benevolence,” and told “Defraud ye not one the other….” The exception was only if both agreed “except it be with consent”, so that “ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer”, and then it was limited to only “a time”, and the married couple was told that afterwards they were to “come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”